Terre Haute News
Indiana Central News
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute, Indiana
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The Terre Haute Board of Public Works approved health coverage changes for city employees for the next year, including an increase in costs.
Pat Carney, of Old National Insurance , made several recommendations with all members voting in favor of the health coverage renewal plan. The item was not on the agenda for action, however the board opted to go ahead and approve the renewal effective July 1, based on Carney's recommendations. Carney said the employee health coverage rates have not been raised since 2013. "We should have raised it, in hindsight, back in [20]14," he said, adding that the increase is a little more than 7 percent. "No increase is good, but it's getting us to where we need to be." Board President Jon Stinson said the changes seem reasonable. "Looking back at the claims that we've had, the fact that we had no increase last year, costs being held for some advocacy groups and some other benefits here -- to me seems to be a reasonable proposal," he said, with members Cary Sparks, James Trimble, Roland Shelton and Bob All agreeing. Carney noted in his presentation that there are currently 539 employees on the medical plan. He reviewed the past three years of fixed costs and claims and a projected around a 7 percent increase. Family coverage will increase about $20 per pay period. He proposed modifying the two available plans, with an increase in the 4th tier drug, or specialty drug, coverage. It currently includes a $100 co-pay. He suggested changing that to a 25 percent co-insurance with a cap of $250. He pointed out that there are groups, including manufacturers, who can potentially help curb the costs for those 125 members identified using the specialty drugs. Another change he is recommending is geared to the the 221 spouses currently covered. He suggests encouraging them to opt out and switch to their own employer's coverage. "This is something the county has implemented -- and most employers have implemented," he said. Employees will also see a slight increase in vision coverage rates. The board also approved the following:
Margaret Avenue Phase III CE Selection Comments are closed.
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Lucy Perry
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News Writer: Lucy Perry
EMAIL: lperrynews@gmail.com |